Consultation on stroke service launched

Bosses at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the Manor, said earlier this year that hyper-acute stroke services at the site were 'unsustainable' and recommended that the service should be transferred to The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust's New Cross Hospital.

Walsall Manor Hospital currently cares for 360-400 patients per year, which is not enough to meet the minimum requirement of 600 stroke patients a year.

Walsall CCG says that initial research pointed to residents not wanting the services to be moved from the Manor Hospital, but a wider consultation has now been launched.

The consultation will run until September 6,

Sally Roberts, chief nurse and director of quality for the CCG said: “Experts recommend the level of care for patients suffering a stroke should be consolidated into specialist units to ensure enough staff are available to provide the right intensive care needed seven days a week.

“We are keen to move the stroke services to Wolverhampton as it will allow us to provide the care needed to stroke patients, which we know saves lives and reduces disability.”

Daren Fradgely, director of strategy and transformation at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, added that the consultation will be 'very important' for the trust and would help inform any future decision.

He said: “This period of engagement will be very important for us as it will help shape the future of stroke services moving forward.

“We want to ensure that all our stakeholders are spoken to and their views heard so that we can provide an effective and efficient service for our patients at the right location.”

However, a Walsall CCG communications officer said: "The consultation follows a series of public listening events that were held earlier this year as part of the Big Conversation, where local residents were asked to give their view on stroke services.

"However, after speaking to stroke sufferers the CCG and Walsall Healthcare Trust have learnt patients prefer to be closer to home when recovering, which means rehabilitation would continue to be provided in Walsall."

To take part in the consultation, visit www.walsallccg.nhs.uk or call 01922 618388